1. Scripture is to be read and studied in context...

• Through the lens of the language in which it was written

• Through the lens of history

• Through the lens of Jesus

2. The character of God never changes, and the character of God’s love is fully represented in the life and person of Jesus.

A. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding a group of people in which to discuss scripture and our questions about scripture and faith. Visit the Missional Community table in our Lobby if you need some help finding a community.

B. Find some good resources. We’ve listed a few books below that may help as you read and study scripture.

by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart

by N. T. Wright

by John Howard Yoder

by Gregory A. Boyd

by Stanley Hauerwas

by Boyd, Green, Reichenbach, & Schreiner

by Derek Flood

by Brad Jersak & Michael Hardin

by Gregory A. Boyd

A. Jesus (Iesous; Jehoshua) means “God saves”

1. Saves (sozo) – deliver, make whole

2. Sins (hamartano) – miss the mark; not sharing in the prize

B. Immanuel (Immanuw’el) means “God with us”

A. Contracts and clauses

1. Confess this, believe that, and then you’ll get this!

A. Covenants and commitments

1. The lens of Jesus

2. The lens of history

3. The lens of language

• What mindset did you have when you began as a Christian…contract or covenant?

• How did that impact your relationship with Christ?

• Why do you think it is so easy for we in the Western part of the world to think it contractual terms versus covenant terms?

• How can we replace/change our view? What does the process of salvation look like in our lives?

If you have a question from today’s talk or any of the talks from the Untangling Scripture series that you would like us to spend some time answering, please fill out a card in the Lobby and drop it off in the basket, fill out the form online at vineyardneworleans.org/questions, or you can email your question to [email protected].

A. The wait is over!

B. What were they waiting for?

A. Jesus, “God Saves” | Matthew 1:20‐21

1. The birth of Christ is the beginning of the end of all that entangles humanity.

B. Immanuel, “God With Us” | Matthew 1:22‐23

1. “The Incarnation”

2. Jesus steps into our world, so that we might experience life the way it was intended.

A. Jesus is born into “messy” circumstances.

1. Social stigmas and a strained marriage

2. Matthew 1:18‐19

B. Jesus is with us in the middle of our messiness.

1. Christ can’t be relegated to a worship service.

2. As followers of Jesus, our entire lives come under his rule and reign.

 IV. “God With ALL of Us”

A. The Kingdom of God is available to ALL people.

1. Jesus meets us where we are, no matter who we are.

2. Luke 2:8‐12, Matthew 2:9‐11

B. Jesus sets the precedent for us as kingdom people.

A. Immanuel is STILL Immanuel today.

B. Thank you!

• What do you think it means that God is with us here and now?

• What are the “messy circumstances” that you can invite God into?

• If the Kingdom is available to everyone, how does that affect the way you interact with others?

A. Timeless truth or culturally relevant truth?

1. Transcultural versus specific situations

2. Is it taught uniformly throughout the Bible?

A. Through the lens of history

1. The role of women in biblical history

2. Prostitutes, Patriarchs, and PhD’s in Ephesus (1 Timothy)

B. Through the lens of language

1. An affirmation of women? (v.11)

2. “Quiet” goes both ways! (v.2; 12)

3. Submission (v.11) and vulnerability (v.14)

C. Through the lens of Jesus

1. The world’s distinctives that divide are null and void.

2. The radical and revolutionary Paul | Galatians 3:27‐29

A. Hanging on to this as a timeless truth harms women, the church, and the kingdom!

• What are some of the cultural ideas about women in ministry that are prevalent today?

• How have you been impacted by the restrictions placed on women in ministry?

• In what ways did this talk challenge your current thoughts and beliefs about male/ female equality and women in ministry?

• How have you previously determined whether a teaching from scripture is timeless and transcultural or culturally relevant?

• What would it look like to live out Galatians 3:27‐29?

 edited by Stanley N. Gundry & James R. Beck

A. Most common applications

1. A sound byte blessing

2. A sound byte theology

B. Most common pitfalls

1. Everything is great...or not!

2. Whatever happens is God's plan.

A. Through the lens of history

1. When, to whom, where, and why was it written?

B. Through the lens of language

1. Plans

2. Prosper

C. Through the lens of Jesus

1. The character of God

2. Love and power that is greater than...

3. Hope and imagination

• Is this a verse that you previously felt had been tangled?

• In what situations have you or others you know used this verse? In what ways and for what purposes?

• How could a misapplication of this text be damaging to someone?

• What would be an appropriate use of the text for us today?

II. Faith and doubt...opposites?

A. For many, our faith is equal to the measure of our certainty about something.

1. Less focus on what we believe; more important that we “believe what we believe”

2. Often leads to fear of doubt and questions

3. Power and hope rely on finding the right “faith formula” rather than the experiential presence of God.

B. Jesus seems to have a different view of faith.

1. Jesus regularly asks and answers questions as a means of helping people to experience the reality of his kingdom.

2. Faith seems to be more about believing enough to trust God and act on it, even in the face of uncertainty.

A. James 1:2‐8

B. Matthew 17:14‐21

A. Formula faith focuses more on controlling our circumstances.

B. Real faith is about seeking, trusting, and experiencing God within our circumstances.

• What has been your view or understanding of faith and doubt in the past? Were any of those views challenged and/or changed by today’s talk?

• Have you ever thought that God was withholding something from you (e.g. healing, wealth, blessings) because of your lack of faith? How does this view of God compare with the character of God we see revealed in Jesus?

• In light of today’s talk, do you think questions and/or uncertainties (about God, the Bible, Christianity) help or hinder our ability to experience God?

by Gregory A. Boyd

by N. T. Wright

A. A tale of two kingdoms

1. Obligations

2. Origins

3. Objections

A. One Lord, one kingdom and one allegiance

B. Being a good citizen

1. Subjection versus obedience

C. “Rendering to each his due…”

1. Does not mean full participation/support at every level

D. Romans 12 and 13 are not contradictory.

E. The way of the Kingdom seems irresponsible, irrational, insane, unpatriotic, treasonous and dangerous!

• What were your thoughts concerning Romans 13:1‐7 before today’s talk? In what ways were you challenged and/or changed as a result of the talk?

• How have people navigated the “two kingdoms” concept historically? Have you ever felt obligated to both? What kind of tension did that produce within you, if any?

• What are your thoughts on the “subjection versus obedience” segment of the talk? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? • How do you see this worked out in the life of Jesus in the midst of the Roman Empire? What are the implications for us?

• How did you feel about the statement in II. E. above, “The way of the Kingdom...”?

by Obery Hendricks, Jr.

by Stanley Hauerwas & W. H. Willimon

A. God breathed dust | Genesis 1 & 2

B. Human beings created in God’s image

A. As followers of Jesus we are not asked to be something other than human.

B. Philippians 4:13 without verses 11 & 12

A. The incarnation reveals that in the middle of the mess and the chaos, our limits and weaknesses, Jesus’ presence is with us.

B. We are invited to experience the reality of God’s kingdom in the here and now.

C. Jesus invites us to trust in him; not formulas.

• What has been your experience, if any, with this verse in the past?

• Do you take more comfort in the idea that God will always help you succeed or in the promise that regardless of what happens, God will walk with you? Why?

• How would you describe the difference between placing your trust in a formula vs. placing your trust in the person of Jesus?

• In the midst of all of your life circumstances right now, what do you sense the Spirit inviting you into?

by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart

by N. T. Wright

A. Genre: ancient epic dramatic poem

B. There is a cosmic battle taking place that Job and his friends are not privy to.

C. The book of Job invites us to actually embrace a view of God that looks like Jesus.

A. Competing theologies

1. Job’s friends believe God is just and therefore must be punishing Job for something.

2. Job concludes everything is by God’s doing, and therefore, God must be unjust.

3. Both are formulaic theologies.

B. Job’s Progression

• Job 1:21 ▻ Job 9:17, 22 ▻ Job 10:3, 8‐13 ▻ Job 10:16‐17, 20

A. God says to Job, “You don’t understand what you are saying.”

B. Job repents. | Job 42:1‐7

C. God is pleased with Job that Job spoke rightly (in honesty, from his gut) with God.

• Can you describe a time in your life when you suffered and responded like Job did— blaming God for your pain?

• How does the phrase “the Lord gives and takes away” impact you and/or influence your image of God?

• Are there people in your life that have experienced suffering and believed either they were being punished or God was not good? What effect did this have on their image of God?

• Describe your thoughts and feelings about the fact that God does not arbitrarily dish out good and evil, but instead he chooses to journey with us through all of the good and the bad in our lives.

by Gregory A. Boyd

by Peter Enns

 I. Commitment’s power

A. Three powerful effects of commitment

1. Demonstrates what is important to me | Matthew 6:24

2. I become what I am committed to | Proverbs 4:23

3. Determines my future | Mark 8:34‐37

A. It threatens independence

1. A life with fewer options with only one life to live?

B. Not committing is perilous as well

1. A life with less meaning?

C. There is a high cost either way…

A. There is no way around the cost

1. Verse 13-17: Pharisees want to discuss politics/position while Jesus wants to discuss commitment

2. Verse 18‐27: Sadducees want to discuss doctrine while Jesus wants to discuss commitment

3. Verse 28‐40: a scribe wants the bottom line and Jesus discusses commitment to loving God and loving people

• He “gets it” but not quite…Verse 34

4. Verse 41‐44: the widow’s commitment B. The price is always, “Mine”

• What kind of commitment phobias have you had to deal with in your life or in the lives of others you are close to? If the phobias were resolved, what eventually resolved them?

• Have you had difficulty in committing specific areas of your life to the kingdom way of life? Which areas and why?

• What do you think is the main issue that keeps Christians from committing financial resources to the work of the kingdom? Perhaps fear, trust issues, lack of teaching, bad models, and MINE?

• Discuss ways that we might all start over (or perhaps for the first time) and embrace the way of self‐sacrificial love even with our resources.